BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

Subject: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,Katy
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 03:09 AM

I was just wondering for those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving - How will you be celebrating? With family? With friends? Alone?
At home? Traveling? Parties?

Well, since I don't have any family around or any close friends nearby, I will probably just go out to a restaurant that will serving a Thanksgiving dinner. Too much trouble to cook a turkey for one person. It's cheaper to eat out then to buy all the various items and cook all day - when you are alone.
I do love turkey a lot! and mashed pototoes, gravy, yams, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans and PUMPKIN PIE WITH WHIPPED CREAM!!
Also like ham a lot - but not as much as turkey.

So just been calling around to various restaurants near me to find out if they will have Thanksgiving dinner (some restaurants are closed that day of course) but I have found four or five so far - with prices from about $8.00 up to $20.00 a person in my area.

I know most people spend it with family, a spouse, etc. but some people are alone I guess on these holidays.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 03:12 AM

I'm alone too. I quit holidays.
=(:-( ))

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 04:45 AM

We will be enjoying the nursing home meal and then go for a short drive.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 05:38 AM

When is it?

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: kendall
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 05:55 AM

Jacqui and I will be having dinner with Sinsull. Maybe make some music?

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 06:03 AM

You can get anything you want at Alice's restaurant.
November 22: the day for dumping rubbish.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: greg stephens
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 06:04 AM

On Radio 4 (BBC, UK this morning,) it was claimed that people in America(well, some people) celebrate Thanksgiving by singing Alice's Restaurant. Can anyone confirm whether this is true, from personal experience?

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 07:18 AM

Absolutely, greg! We often listen to Arlo's rendition all the way through!

This year it will be a quiet feast, with my husband and grown children, and my 86- yr old mom and her partner. As I'm recovering from surgery I have to let the amateurs do most of it, so I shall sit on my couch in regal splendor and offer guidance.

And be very grateful for the abundance and love overflowing in my life.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,Bob in Central Florida
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 08:04 AM

Just another day now. The rest of the family is too far away and will need to get back to work the next day. Some will work Thanksgiving day.

Back when I was working I would cover a shift for someone so they could spend time with their family. Same for Christmas.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 08:43 AM

Greg, sometimes we (those of us of a certain age) watch the film with Arlo Guthrie. I like the scene with Joni Mitchell in the cemetery in Stockbridge, MA, singing "Songs for Aging Children" -- BTW, Prof. Child is buried in Stockbridge in the Sedgwick Pie.

Tom and I will have an uneventful traditional meal at home...with Jeri as guest. Turkey with sausage/breadcrumb stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy. I'm not sure yet (have to confer with Tom who will be orchestrating everything even if his minions may have to do the actual cooking) what green vegetable (maybe something almondine), etc. we're having. Since Tom doesn't actually EAT any squash, I think I'll be able to bake a couple small acorn squashes, which I prefer. No cranberry sauce. No sweet potatoes or yams. Pumpkin pie with whipped cream for dessert.

We'd sing the Thanksgiving Round (as we did last night at The Press Room session and, perhaps, will today at the sea music singaround), but we don't have enough voices.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 08:53 AM

I thought it was the third Thursday in November?   ie the 15th.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 08:54 AM

Apparently I'm wrong though ;) (AGAIN!)

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 09:04 AM

You're only off by one, John -- US Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November. Immediately followed by Black Friday.

What I am MOST thankful for this year is I no longer live in fear of having to work at the mall on Black Friday. (As if anybody buys eyeglasses on Black Friday!)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 09:04 AM

I'll be thinking of the Native Americans and how this day makes them feel...

Sorry to be a Party Pooper, but..........

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Charmion
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 09:39 AM

Lizze Cornish, if you don't want to be a party pooper, just stop pooping on other people's parties. You can do it if you really, really try.

Thanksgiving is the harvest festival, a tradition the First Nations share, and feasting in times of plenty is just as universal. The First Nations folks I know -- Mohawks and Algonquin and Micmac -- celebrate Thanksgiving with great enthusiasm.

If you want to chuck sh*t at American holidays on behalf of the First Nations, pick on Columbus Day.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 09:40 AM

Well, Linn, I like squash, and kind of squash. Butter goes on it.
Actually, I don't actually dislike anything that's typically possibly served at Thanksgiving.

John, I ALWAYS know when Thanksgiving is... because it's on the calendar. So's Easter, which is held mostly on a Sunday after the first full moon after Spring Equinox, the week after the previous year's first deer fart was recorded at the base of Mt Washington. That's in New Hampshire--I don't know how other states do it. But it's on the calendar.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 09:41 AM

You think they'd rather be huddled in a smoke-filled tipi while men stand out in the cold, watching for raiders from more war-like tribes?
======
For the first year in my life, I have no plans for Thanksgiving. I'm not invited anywhere and I'm not hosting anybody. Let's hope it's a mere glitch in the statistics.

I think I'll dream up a nice, autumnal (turkey mole?) and then go bird-watching with the DH.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 09:46 AM

One year when I was in Washington DC, I made chicken tandoori for just me with Cornish game hens. I think they came in a pair, but I like leftovers. I remember it was good, and both I and the hens were very colorful.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Midchuck
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 09:59 AM

Our children are just a little less far away than they would be if they lived in England, so getting together with them is not practicable. Kris just got back from north of Boston, where her mom just got out of the hospital, and may need to go back in a week or 10 days if she gets out of rehab on schedule, so doesn't want to make the trip again right now.

We thought we'd spend the holiday with just the two of us, but my second sister, who lives about 1 - 1.5 hr. north of us, invited us to have dinner with her and husband, their 3 children and spouses (spice?), and 6 (I think it is now) grandchildren. Two more of us won't be much of a problem, and we'll be bringing beer and cookies.

P.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Elmore
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 10:03 AM

With our family scattered all over the country, my wife and I will be dining out on Thanksgiving for the first time since we met. Perhaps we'll dine out on Nov. 27 as well. That's Native American Heritage Day

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: kendall
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 10:43 AM

Midchuck, nothing is a problem if you bring enough beer.

Hope you and Kris have a very satisfying day.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Marmdad
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 11:24 AM

Working and listening to Alice's Restaurant at noon. Then will be spending the Christmas holidays with Irene in the UK! :-)

Richard

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: CupOfTea
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 12:53 PM

I've no relatives, so I borrow those who come as a package deal with friends: I'll be doing two   different family gatherings over the weekend. Thursday I'll be with Ruth & Bryan (former bass player & former morris dancer) & we'll be celebrating their wedding anniversary in her mother's house, where they were married 14 years ago on Thanksgiving Day. "Madam" is a fanatically good cook & the meal will be spectacular .

Friday morning I pack up self, cookies & instruments and head for the ferry dock to go over to my best friend Chuck's family on South Bass Island/Put In Bay, staying with his sister Sharon. I'm looking forward to seeing, and playing music, for his extended family who will gather Friday and Saturday - we'll feast one of those days. Chuck's partner Rick has mad chef skills & I'm sure that meal will be amazing too: Islanders angle for invitations when he's up there and cooking in Sharon's kitchen. There will be much alcohol - it IS Put in Bay, after all.

I'm so lucky that I've friends who are so willing to share family, who have families who are willing to absorb an orphan into their midst.

I had a third invitation at a church friend's family, where I've gone in previous years. My large brocade tablecloth will be going, so part of my spirit will be there since I've not been cloned.

My Thanksgiving turkey goes in the freezer till Christmas, when it'll be done on the grill with mesquite - a newish tradition with Jewish friends.

Joanne, Thankful in Cleveland

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 04:29 PM

Having mock peanut burgers made with turkey. This time of year brings out the vegetarian in me.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Charmion
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 05:58 PM

Cornish game hen tandoori sounds like a great idea; I must try it.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Bobert
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 07:48 PM

Well, we moved to Charlotte, NC to be around the P-Vine's kids but seems that the only time we have ever seen 'um is at Thanksgiving...

Some things never change...

Me??? I'd be happy with a pizza, a 6-pack of cold Iron City and the football games but...

No, D-I-L and the P-Vine's bad son won't be there...

B~

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: LadyJean
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 08:38 PM

I'll be at my sister's. Her birthday's the 25th so there will be another celebration. Last year there was a pig roast. My sister raises chickens, but they don't eat the little birdies, all of whom have names. They have 7 roosters. It isn't what you'd call quiet over there.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 08:50 PM

Okay, Jeri, the squash is back on the menu. Since I'm from Wisconsin, OF COURSE, it will be a vehicle for butter. Gravy goes on everything else. I think I'm also making asparagus almondine sauteed in bacon fat.

And I hope I have a chance to make the sherry black pepper shortbread...

Linn

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 09:01 PM

Does that mean you briefly took the acorn squish OFF the menu? Don't care whether it's butternut, acorn, hubbard (never had one of those big muthas) or any variety. Please make whatever YOU want.

999, you should try imitation tofurkey sometime. Just leave the toes out.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 09:54 PM

I plan to do the usual thing that men in my family have done for generations. I will creep through the woods, equipped with only a pair of mocassins, a deerskin loincloth, and a sharp knife, and I will stalk the wild turkey to its doom! You have to be both stealthy and fast to get them, specially when doing it in this manner.

When the turkey is rendered hors de combat, I will carry it home and cook it on a spit over an open fire. Tobacco and sage offerings will be made to appease the turkey spirits and many songs will be sung.

Ah, yes...it's going to be glorious! ;-)

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Don Firth
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 10:18 PM

Barbara and I are having dinner at our apartment, with a number of guests. An old friend who's coming from out of town to stay with us for a couple of days, our upstairs neighbors, a couple of neighbors who live nearby, my sister Pat, and a few other "orphan" friends who don't have family in this area. We're (i.e., Barbara) is/are providing the main course stuff and folks are bringing things like hors d'oeuvres, pies, bottles of wine. . . .

Also, Barbara's birthday is the nineteenth, so we'll be lifting a glass to that.

There will likely be a bit of music. Paul, one of our upstairs neighbors, is an actor (been doing a lot of Shakespeare lately) and a singer. He plays a bit of guitar. And I'm liable to haul out my guitar and try to wheeze a bit. A couple of the ladies sing quite well.

Lots of after dinner burpin' and scratchin'.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 04:39 AM

Jeri. I think you better send me one o' them thar Murrican calendars. We have deer here too. and I wanr to show it to them, so they know when to fart.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 07:50 AM

This year we're doing our regular get together, followed on Saturday by one with Lady Hillary's family. Our contribution to this pair of feasts will be squash soup, garnished with home made yogurt.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,The Wild Turkey
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 11:27 AM

Thank you for the heads up, Little Hawk. My friends and I will be looking for you, as well. You say that you'll be the funny looking guy in a deerskin loincloth? You won't be hard to find. I think about 4 of us can take you out without working up a sweat and save us the hassle of having to hunt for our Thanksgiving meal. We appreciate you delivering.

Little Hawk: the other, other white meat. Yummy.

See you Thursday, Mister Hawk.

Wild Turkey & Co.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 02:08 PM

I was on my way back from Whitby yesterday so could not celebrate much. I could have a glass or two of Wild Turkey I guess :-) Not sure about the dear-skin loincloth either. But, if you are up for it LH, let me know and I will be there next year decked out in clogs, boy-scout penknife and black-pudding skin trollies...

Have a lovely weekend one and all.

DtG

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 07:13 PM

I have a lot of memories of Thanksgivings. For me, it's been a holiday mostly about family--more so in later years when my family was my mother and I. It became as important as Christmas, and whether I was a couple thousand miles or a four-hour drive away, I'd do my best to get home.

My mother usually had to chase me out of the kitchen while she was cooking, because I'd nibble quite a bit of the pre-cooked stuffing: bread cubes, celery, onion, herbs and cooked sausage.

I actually remember stuffing myself to the gills, then eating more. What was left of the turkey sat on the table while we (including guests) talked and picked at it. I quit doing that when I realized it wasn't really a comfortable thing to do. Stop when not quite full, THEN pick at the carcass.

I remember the colors of Thanksgiving, which are mostly the colors of autumn leaves, the browns of the tail on the turkey candles that never got lit, the brown turkey skin and gravy, green beans, dark orange pumpkin pie, and glistening garnet cranberry sauce.

My father died when I was 17, and Thanksgiving was never the same. My mother died 20 years ago, and that was the end of my family. I mostly remember not the food, but how it felt to be with my family. Now, I spend the day with family of a different sort. The smells, tastes, colors, and warm glow of belonging can bring back that Thanksgiving mood.

And now, it's after 7 PM and I've written myself into ravening hunger...

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 07:44 PM

Katy, $8 for a restaurant meal at Thanksgiving is a great price! Do you have other unattached friends who might like to join you? I have sometimes had my Thanksgiving dinner at Chinese restaurants, which are also often open on Christmas, too. In fact dining at Chinese restaurants at Christmas was a tradition in my family where the idea was that none of the moms should have to do all that work on Christmas. When an uncle spent three years in a nursing home I had dinner with him there. And some radio stations (usually public or college stations) play Alice's Restaurant during the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Also, high school football games between local rival schools are often played annually on Thanksgiving morning. My son played trombone in the Coventry High School band at their games against West Warwick High School.

This year, like most recent years, I have been invited to dine at the home of my daughter-in-law's mother and stepdad in Newport, RI. Theirs is a large family with their adult children, their spouses, and their children. The first time I went I brought six bottles of wine purchased from a specialty wine store, since I didn't know what foods they would serve and didn't want to duplicate what they already had. However, they are very knowledgeable about wine and I'm not sure if they liked what I brought. I knew they had selected their own wine for that meal and told them to set mine aside for another occasion. They never mentioned anything about having drunk the ones I gave. I was hoping at least to hear something like, "We particularly liked [such-and-such]." Having eaten there that first time, I was able to decide what they didn't serve and I've brought it ever since--shrimp with cocktail sauce and tartar sauce, which I will bring again this year. One year I also brought French-Canadian meat stuffing (which is also used to make pies--my grandmother's recipe), only to discover that both the mother and stepdad had cooked turkeys with different stuffings. Mine never got served, though I think it was forgotten and not deliberate. At that time I hadn't known them for long and didn't know how to bring it up, although at the end of the meal I reminded them it was in the microwave and should be put in the refrigerator. My son and daughter-in-law took some home with them.

One year recently when I realized I was going to be alone (my son and daughter-in-law were going to my ex-husband's in New Hampshire) I went to Latitude 41, the restaurant owned by Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. At that time the seaport opened on Thanksgiving but was minimally staffed on that day. That meant no programs, but people could walk the grounds, which I did. Now the seaport no longer opens on Thanksgiving, although the restaurant still has its holiday buffet.

Lizzie, when I taught elementary school, no matter what the grade, from Columbus Day until Thanksgiving I would put on display all my books on Native Americans. (These books were on the classroom shelves mixed with other books throughout the year for children to read when assigned work was completed.) I would tell my students that many Native Americans did not feel like celebrating these holidays and i would explain why. Also, I often respond to pleas at this time of the year from Native American relief organizations to donate the amount of money required to serve a turkey dinner to a certain number of people.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 19 Nov 12 - 09:18 AM

I wish you all a very merry Thanksgiving Day over there, and especially warm wishes to those on their own. Must be a bit tricky when everyone is celebrating in the bosom of their family and one is sitting there with a turkey leg and a bottle of beer! Watched a TV programme about Butterball turkeys in USA which are raised in their thousands in gigantic barns. The poor things don't see the sky or run outdoors, and I felt very sorry for them. Here we have the same sad situation, but also many are now turning to outdoor Norfolk (black) turkeys, which live in grassy fields and a wooden shed at night. They have a very special flavour, but cost a lot. I like this method better, I think they're much happier.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Becca72
Date: 19 Nov 12 - 09:58 AM

Because of past issues, I have grown to greatly dislike Thanksgiving. I usually work that day, however this year I'm having Thai food with a dear friend (no, not a DEER friend, Jeri) and my niece.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 19 Nov 12 - 10:13 AM

Canadians actually have had their Thanksgiving already. We have it in October. Anyway, something really neat happened on my birthday which is around the middle of October. I had 3 visitors from France staying at my place that week, and we were celebrating my birthday and Monique's, because they were both happening that week. So we were all in the dining room in the morning, having breakfast. The windows and patio doors look out on a large back lawn with a forest behind it and big trees all around. Suddenly I saw a line of wild turkeys emerge cautiously making their way around the corner of the house from the east end. They were stepping softly and keeping a careful watch. I alerted the guests and we all watched with rapt attention as a group of 29 of these amazing birds trouped into the back yard and spread out to forage around the bird feeders I have set up...only about 15 feet from the dining room and living room windows. It was an amazing and beautiful sight to see these very large wild birds up so close.

Maguy got a number of pictures of them with her camera. The turkeys were clearly aware that we were behind the windows watching them, but they didn't seem to be too worried about it. They were in the back yard for about the next half hour, slowly moving around the lawn in search of food. Eventually they went into the forest at the back and vanished from sight.

Monique said that if her uncle was there he'd have siezed the opportunity to get his gun and fill the freezer with fresh turkey meat, but I wouldn't dream of shooting those beautiful birds...unless I was starving. Then I guess I would.

Wild Turkeys were extinct in Ontario earlier in the 20th century, but they have been re-introduced from the USA since, and they are now doing well. This is the only time I've seen them up close, and it was quite a treat that it happened on my birthday.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Bobert
Date: 19 Nov 12 - 10:42 AM

Turkey is fowl tasting...

Me??? A couple Moon Pies and a six-pack of Iron City Beer...

Now, there's somethin' to be thankful for...

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 19 Nov 12 - 12:50 PM

Bobert, what are Moon pies please? I've decided this year not to have turkey for Crimbo; we're having a large free-range chickie instead. I'm not a bad cook, but turkey can be a bit dry and tasteless.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Nov 12 - 01:15 PM

For many years Thanksgiving was, perhaps, my least favorite holiday. I usually had to go someplace I didn't want to go and be with people I didn't particularly want to be with...and NOT be with the people I REALLY wanted to be with.

Meals with my parents were not a great experience. That's when my mother would find something to start a fight with me about. Can't tell you how many meals were left uneaten (by me) when I either left the house to walk off my raging emotions or "locked" myself in my room with a book (or a notebook and pen). Plus, as a teen, probably to assert my independence and be contrary, I developed an aversion to fowl, especially turkey. I had an early history of eating a Mexican or oriental TV dinner alone and then reading, when I refused to go to relatives homes (usually with cousins much younger than me) for Thanksgiving.

Things are MUCH better now and a lot more enjoyable and it's not just because Tom is a great cook and I can truly enjoy his very traditional take on the Thanksgiving meal, but because we can share it with friend(s) who are more family than family.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Don Firth
Date: 19 Nov 12 - 04:56 PM

Actually, we're having chicken instead of the traditional turkey.

I think we had our fill of "turkey" leading up to the recent election.

An exotic delicacy:   Moon pie.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Joe_F
Date: 19 Nov 12 - 04:57 PM

My best buddy Jim is coming up Wednesday from NJ. We'll be having Thanksgiving with some cousins of his who live in Methuen, MA, not far from here. I will make a cheesecake.

Last year we did the same, and they had salmon as the main course. Perhaps that is the Greek Orthodox tradition %^).

Many years ago, I had Thanksgiving in the house of some old friends of the family. Roast beef was served, and our hostess, a schoolteacher, mentioned that she had confessed her heretical menu in class. Oooh, said one of the young people, they must have thought you were a Communist! That caused a dead silence around the table, because, as everyone else there knew, she was.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 19 Nov 12 - 05:05 PM

Jeri, that was a very moving post. Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Janie
Date: 19 Nov 12 - 10:16 PM

Son has to work the day and weekend after so we are going to his girlfriend's Aunt's house on Thanksgiving Day. Feels weird to me because I don't know either the girlfriend or the aunt well at all - though enjoy them both to the extent I do know them. Will be an opportunity to know them better, but always think of Thanksgiving as a time to be with close family and/or close friends when I can't get home.

Friday morning I'll get up early and drive to West Virginia to Mom's. Sis is driving in also. We used to have a family Thanksgiving at whatever point in the weekend the most people could get "home." Would often be 10-20 people at the table among cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. That was years ago, before so many of us moved away and raised kids elsewhere.

We are so small now, it is hard for the younger generations to juggle schedules, distances and dinners at assorted in-laws, and it is still hard without Daddy. The three of us will be thankful to have a weekend together, but will not make a feast of it. Probably go out to a good restaurant one night over the weekend, taking the nephew who lives with Mom with us, then plan on making rounds to visit the few other relatives in the area over the course of the weekend.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,Katy
Date: 20 Nov 12 - 12:55 AM

In Reply to Chantey Lass:

No, don't have any unattached close friends and none live near me at all. So...I will just be alone. My neighbors (who I don't know beyond a hello when I walk my dog - are all married with families,etc and don't really know them. People tend to keep to themselves with their kids and spouses.

I had planned to take a bus to a restaurant (or actually two buses each way) but forgot that the buses in (my area) are not running on Thanksgiving Day. No restaurants to walk to - the closest one is not open on Thanksgiving anyway. I do not have a car - so rely on public transit and cannot afford to take a taxi to the restaurant that is open, as it would cost too much for me to take taxis both ways.

I probably would feel kind of out of place in a restaurant alone on that day anyway. I do eat out alone often and don't mind it but on holidays I think you do tend to feel a little out of place.

I might just buy a frozen TV dinner with turkey in it at the store on Wednesday as the buses are running that day.
Looked in the supermarket a few days ago - and all they have a large turkeys - wish they sold little ones for single people who will be alone on that day. I don't like those little packages of deli meat with turkey - would rather get a frozen dinner to heat up.

Looks like most people have posted here that they will be doing various things with family or spouse, their kids, etc. - so I do wish all of you a Wonderful Thanksgiving!

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: mg
Date: 20 Nov 12 - 03:21 AM

I am going to my sister's in Tacoma..I think...driving back from Seattle today..heavy rain but nothing abnormal..got most of the way home...turned on the radio...bridges closed, trees in the road, deaths, winds 114 miles an hour..wasn't sure I should drive home or get a motel but I drove and it was quite normal weather..for here...but there might be a lot of flooding this week...not sure roads will be open. Does everyone have emergency provisions now?> And give them for cHRISTMAS presents to those who have not assembled what they would need. I did not know if we would have power, if we would be cut off from supplies for a while etc.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: JJ
Date: 20 Nov 12 - 08:33 AM

That's not Joni Mitchell singing "Songs to Aging Children Come" in the "Alice's Restaurant" cemetery scene. It's Tigger Outlaw.

I've wondered about her for years...

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 20 Nov 12 - 11:26 AM

Katy, I do hope you can have a very nice Thanksgiving on your own. I lived alone for many years, and spent a lot of Christmasses on my own. I managed to get along by treating 'it' as just another day. The sun comes up, the sun goes down, and it's no different. Actually, I suspect that for quite a few families, it isn't as warm and cosy as singletons may think. There are tensions and problems, people get bored stuck on a sofa being polite to eachother. I'm sure you'll get in some nice food (not necess. trad stuff) that you enjoy, some books or DVDs, have a walk outside and tick off the TV progs you may want to watch. (I used to hate being condemned to watch ghastly rubbish with other people!) I often turned down kindly meant invitations, as I truly preferred to treat it as a quiet day. Hope you 'find yourself' as I did, and end up quite happy. Alone is not necess. lonely.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Nov 12 - 05:18 PM

Thanksgiving away from home can be a mixed experience. My first one was in the Peace Corps while I was teaching in Ethiopia and turned out quite good. There were several Peace Corps Volunteers in the village of Emdeber. So we banded together for the holiday, invited some of the other teachers at school to join us. So the feast included a canned ham, spicy Ethiopian chicken stew (young chickens are never butchered in Ethiopia) with injera, and Indian curry. There was lots of beer and some honey wine. So we had a very good time and were quite wasted the day afterwards.

This year Judy and I are joining my mother down at the farm on Georgetown Island, along with Judy's brother and his wife. We'll be roasting up two ducks for dinner, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a salad. Mother will be baking a sour cream raisin pie and my sister-in-law is baking an apple pie. We're probably bringing some sparkling cider since my sister-in-law doesn't drink alcoholic beverages. We may have a round of bourbon and cider before they arrive!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Jeri
Date: 20 Nov 12 - 06:04 PM

I've spent Thanksgiving and other holidays away from home. The year I made the game hen Tandoori (Indiana, not DC as previously stated) I was alone, but I was determined to enjoy the day and not be sad. I succeeded. One time (I think it was Christmas, not Thanksgiving (but it would have worked), I went (pre-arranged) with some folks from work and served the meal at a homeless shelter (that WAS in DC). I had a good time making people happier and full, and I didn't have any time to think about being alone.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 20 Nov 12 - 08:32 PM

Katy, you might be able to get frozen turkey legs at your market. Here they are sold two to a package, so you could put one in your freezer for another day and start defrosting the other. Or you might be able to get a turkey breast or some turkey breast meat.

Right now I am listening to Alice's Restaurant on the Kingston Coffeehouse, WRIU, the University of Rhode Island's FM radio station. A friend of mine and Stone Soup Coffeehouse stalwart Jane Falvey hosts the show on Tuesday evenings, 6-9 PM.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 12:00 AM

To Guest Eliza

Thank you for your nice messasge. You are right, often there can be tensions between families. Wife wanting to spend it with her relatives and husband with his parents or other relatives. So usually spent with one family or the other and tensions do arise sometimes because of this.

I do remember several years ago during Christmas time, when I was renting a room in an elderly person's home. He had a son & daughter-in-law near by and he invited me to spend Christmas at his son's house. I did go but did not feel that comfortable around these people (I did not know very well) plus they had another couple over with their kids - so all were talking with each other - but not too much to me. I wound up playing with their little dogs and talking more to their kids - but I did sit on their sofa - most of the time by myself.

Then they went around in a circle each person opening all their gifts from each other - and I felt really uncomfortable - as I was not a part of that.

So...I will find something tomorrow at the supermarket that I can prepare and watch some videos - (I'm not a sports person - so don't get into watching sports) :-))

To Chantey Lass:

Also thank you for your message. Does that radio station from R.I have a web site to hear their music on Tuesday's? Is it all folk?

Kate

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,Katy
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 12:02 AM

The last message was from me - I forgot to type my name in the box under subject.

Thanks,
Katy

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 04:34 PM

The Origin of Thanksmas

Holiday are stressful to us all, as well to the communal household and those of us sharing the comforts of Rivendell Co-op in Lansing, Michigan, were painfully aware that when a traditional holiday hit we split off in all different directions leaving one or two members rattling around in an almost empty house.

Then one year we got the brilliant idea that instead of trying to compete with the holidays, the major ones being Thanksgiving and Christmas, we would create our own alternative one. And so "Thanksmas" came to be and all was happy again in our communal nest, that is until we tried to implement the concept.

Who would attend was no problem except there was a long list of prospects from relatives, friends, and ex-members. Our living room space was L-shaped and rather narrow in each dimension - no round table would fit, nor our octagon kitchen table which was needed out in the kitchen anyway for a staging area. What were we to do for tables? Well, looking around at the blank faces, and then the walls didn't help much, until we came to the doors. DOORS! Doors could be taken down and with the assistance of milk crates would make excellent modular tables. Off we flew for tools and in 15 minutes we were lumping in doors from various parts of the house and laying them out in the configuration of a skewed cross. Not bad, we thought, except for the door knobs that might get confused with salt and pepper shakers. But we had a plan and it seemed to work. We giggled over how years later new members of Rivendell would be terrorized by the annual call of "Thanksmas, Assemble!"

That's all there really is to this story. Things worked out as planned, usually about 30 people showed up with huge amounts of food, and left with huge cramps in their legs necessitated by having to sit on the carpet with their legs folded somewhere to gain access to the table.

The resident Rivendwellers are still celebrating their annual Thanksmas. Just received their annual card yesterday!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 06:27 PM

Charlie, I'm calling it Christthanksweenie. Of course, that doesn't include the whole Christmahanakwanza experience. "Christmahanakwanzathankenweenie" maybe?

Guy at the store in the frozen meal section realized they were playing "Do you see what I..." and exclaimed "CHRISTMAS music!?" I'd been humming along in happy ignorance until he let me know I'd been sucked into the capitalistic subliminalization.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 09:15 PM

GUEST Kate, WRIU's website is http://www.wriu.org/ , and you can listen online. The folk programs follow the schedule below unless the regular host can't be there and they can't find a folk host to substitute, or when the college basketball team plays a home game.
As you can see each night features a different type of folk music.

Folk & Roots music from the past, present & future.

Weekdays 6:00-9:00pm, Sundays 11:00am-2:00pm
Format Director: Chuck Wentworth (folk @ wriu.org)

Lineup:
Monday: : Traditions with Chuck Wentworth
Tuesday: Kingston Coffeehouse with Jane Falvey
Wednesday: The Celtic Realm with Laura Travis
Thursday: The Boudin Barndance with Dan Ferguson
Friday: The Bluegrass Breakdown with Mike Fischman
Sunday: Shades Of Blue with Paul Mania, Mark Crook & Larry Phillips
Recurring fill-ins include Tom Duksta, Bruce Decker & John Stey

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 09:25 PM

Jeri-

The last time I checked in with the Rivendell gang, some 4 years ago, they were actually raising children. They had remodeled the kitchen and were quite proud of the new countertops. Since then they've purchased some land in the country to build a second housing co-op. Lord knows where it will all end if it ever does. I wish them well.

One year someone made a bowl of "special turkey dressing" and it was safely placed on a surface where children could not get into it. We forgot about the adult guests. Someone's mother got into it and was merrily flying around for the rest of the afternoon...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: frogprince
Date: 21 Nov 12 - 11:22 PM

Our only relative within 400 miles is my wife's father. For several years now we have been at one or the other family homes of his long-time girlfriend's family for Thanksgiving. Last year we were at my wife's father's girlfriend's granddaughter's husband's parent's home.
This year the gathering will be at said girlfriend's daughter's home, so I won't have to think as long before getting it straight if someone asks.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 10:25 AM

Eat the bird!
Eat the bird!!

Actually we're planning our feed on Sunday when it's more convenient for the most people. Today we'll dine on turnips and cabbage.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Janie
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 11:58 AM

Well, I should call home more often. I thought we were going out to a nice restaurant Friday or Saturday in lieu of cooking. Nephews, who my Mom raised from latency age, were counting on being at Mom's for Thanksgiving dinner on Friday, when we normally celebrate it. I thought my married nephew with the very young kids was going to be in Parkersburg at his wife's family. Sis decided she would prepare the meal to save Mom the cooking, since I won't be there until tomorrow afternoon, bring everything she needs with her, and has the menu all planned - Salmon instead of Turkey since one nephew and his family are primarily vegetarian, but will eat fish or seafood occasionally.

Mom couldn't help herself. She is fixing a turkey breast today, has a spiral cut ham she is also going to fix, and is making oyster dressing and deviled eggs for tomorrow to add to Sis's menu at the request of the nephews. Says the Turkey and ham are for us to eat on over the weekend. (How much turkey and ham can three women and one 35 year old nephew eat in 2 days?) Main thing is, she says, she can't break with tradition for the nephews. Means too much to them.

Love.

Having lived away for most of my nephews' lives I tend to mindlessly forget that my Mom is as much Mom to them as she is to me. Realizing it was hard on them last Christmas when Sis and I whisked Mom away for a Christmas in Charleston, SC. The three of us needed a break from tradition to deal with our first Christmas without Dad, but they probably could have used the continuity to help them with their own grief.



Me? I'm just gonna work on gaining back a few of the 60 lbs I've lost over the past 18 months, play with my grandnieces and do the dishes afterward.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: bobad
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 02:57 PM

Thanks Jesus for this food

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 03:22 PM

Ahhhh - For some off reason I thought it was last Thursday and apologized for being late!

To my American cousins and all my friends over there - Happy Thanksgiving.

I celebrated with Fish Cake and Chips for lunch - a rare treat for me - and I may well have a glass of rum later. Oh, and just to make you feel at home, I included an American spelling above :-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 03:29 PM

We are having a lovely quiet dinner at home with just the two of us.
In lieu of turkey and all that stuffing, we are having home made delicious soup and
artichokes, with celebratory fizz water cranberry and apple ala Martinellis.

Our neighborhood is nice and quiet and great for a 60 degree long walk.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: gnu
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 05:59 PM

Screaming at the coach of the Detroit Lions. Who runs up the middle on 2nd and 3rd down in barely field goal range in overtime?

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 08:11 PM

Pleasantly full after a great dinner with great friends.

No feetsball!

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 08:20 PM

Gnu, they never had to develop a passing game.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 03:44 PM

I guess it means something Gnu and 999 but it's beyond me. Give me a googly or a silly mid-on anytime. Or let is know that the batsman's Holding, the bowler's Willie...

:D (tG)

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: gnu
Date: 23 Nov 12 - 04:14 PM

9... no, they didn't. It was doing fine (actually, VERY well) until they started running the damn ball up the middle simply to keep the fieldgoal attempt square and protect the ball. Those few lost yards cost them the game. Coaching mistake by them and MAYbe a coaching coup by the Texan's defensive coordinator.

On a brighter note, I spent the very last of TG watching the Pats teach the Jets how football is played. >;-D

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: GUEST,jaze
Date: 24 Nov 12 - 11:16 AM

JJ's right- that's not Joni Mitchell in the cemetery scene. The producers wanted Joni to give up the rights to her song to be in the movie. Joni refused and they got a look a like to sing it. Smart Joni.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 24 Nov 12 - 11:47 AM

So, Katy, how did you spend the day?

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: CupOfTea
Date: 26 Nov 12 - 05:22 PM

Why are Thanksgiving weekends such an adventure? I've NEVER had a dull&predictable Thanksgiving, ever. I've spent it in some far flung places with some peculiar people, but this year may take the prize for the edgiest adventure.

Thanksgiving day was the 14th wedding anniversary of some friends, so I gifted them with some of their favorite rumballs when I went there for dinner. We didn't QUITE break the temperature record, but came durn close to, with 60 degrees and sunny, so I spent most of the day doing yard work between cookie & rumball making. Meal conversation was more interestingly specific due to a French astrophysicist room-mate of the 20something daughter where we amused each other by trying to explain the American &/or Cleveland versions of things were were talking about. I'm not sure our footnoted conversation was entirely illuminating.

Black Friday - The temperature took a huge nosedive and the wind kicked up. I gathered my warm clothes and packed up the instruments, cookies and self to catch the last ferry to South Bass, with friends coming from southern Ohio. Get to Sandusky area, and the water level at the western end of the lake is the lowest I've ever seen it in over 55 years of lake gawking. The Huron river was mudflats - where I'm used to seeing herons around the edges, there was muck, muck and more muck. At the dock, the ferry is not there, the gates are closed -not running anymore. Too windy, too wild water, and fear of how shallow it is to begin with.

We caravan to the airport where we're told yes, they're able to fly us over, we just have to wait for a couple other flights. It's only 6 min or so of a flight from Port Clinton to South Bass/Put in Bay. In the waiting room, I get introduced to the Episcopal pastor "Mother Mary." I asked if she wanted something for an offertory song from a visiting musician. "Actually, we need a musician for the whole service" was her response. This did indeed happen, after a Saturday morning consultation on what hymns/songs were appropriate, that we both knew. The alternative, when they don't have a musician (a veryyyy small congregation) was to rely on "Justin" - it took a couple rounds of who-does-what conversation before I grokked that "Justin Case" is their tape recording of service music and hymns that they use when musician-less! Justin got the day off.

At the airport in Port Clinton, I was so caught up in talking to Mother Mary, that when the time came for us to board the wee 6 seater plane, I left my purse in the waiting room. Tucking all the suitcases, instrument cases, boxes of cookies and bags of booze and us into that wee plane was downright exciting as the wind cranked up & the pilot looked young enough to get carded at the bar. It was going dusk and we were going to be the last flight of the day. "Hold on it's going to be a bumpy ride" goes down in my catalog of VAST UNDERSTATEMENTS. I've never been so rattled about in a plane! I didn't have enough time to get actually scared, because a couple minutes into the flight I realized I didn't have my purse on me and started fuming at my own carelessness - the precious purse with phone, wallet, all ID, insurance cards, DEBIT CARD (eeek!) my rescue inhaler... all in the waiting room until who-knew-when.

We got extra encouragement to hang on as he banked into the crosswind for the landing and I suspect we did over 220 degrees of tilting till we got down below the tree line and - the landing runway was the smoothest part of the whole trip!

I enjoyed Chuck's whole extended family we caroused with through the weekend. I played and sang in the kitchen during food prep and clean up, with some sing alongs, which was a big surprise to Chuck ("I never knew my nephew had such a good voice!") and my playing at church caused a couple of "don't usually go" folks to be part of the congregation which was amusing. A family member brought my purse over on the Saturday morning ferry. Hung out in the ONE open island bar where the other end had the red & grey saturation of folks watching the INTENSE rivalry of an Ohio State-Michigan game.

By Sunday, the wind had settled down enough to take the ferry back and stand on the car deck watching an extraordinarily large flock of seagulls form above the ferry wake. Didn't cook, didn't buy a thing but some food & drink, didn't actually watch the football - a genuinely nice Thanksgiving weekend, with two different families & didn't feel like I was playing hooky from my usual Sunday music ministry duties. Grand, just grand.


Joanne, Back in Cleveland and not feeding the fishes in Lake Erie.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: gnu
Date: 26 Nov 12 - 09:09 PM

Thank goodness!

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 27 Nov 12 - 03:50 PM

I posted (or thought I did) on Thanksgiving day, but it doesn't seem to have shown up, so...

This Thanksgiving was very special for me, as it is/was the second TG I have spent with my family in 15 years (we usually cross the pond to visit during the summer, or during the winter holidays; November doesn't offer as much time when the kids are not in school - a major consideration).

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and to be able to enjoy TG dinner with my family (3 generations; 14 people including my parents, sibs, and nieces & nephews - everyone except my husband) meant SO much to me, I confess I still get choked up thinking about it.

I was also aware that (due to my parents' increasing age and frailties), it might be the last TG I manage to get to which both parents are able to attend, as well.

A sobering thought, but one that made me all the more thankful for the sweetness of that time together. It is a memory I will treasure.

Subject: BS: Thanksgiving do's and don'ts
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Nov 21 - 10:30 AM

Its been awhile since a family gathering for a holiday so I've forgotten most of the procedure, process, cooking temperatures, methodology, modus operandi, behavior and conduct.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 21 - 10:49 AM

Don, here's a Thanksgiving thread that brings up a lot of those topics and includes one of our unmissed old party poopers. There's also a recipe thread here.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Nov 21 - 05:34 PM

Its coming back to me now, even the carved Pineapple turkey.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Nov 23 - 09:15 AM

It's the season to re-refresh a previously refreshed thread,
just in time for the holiday.

Dinner is provided where I am staying, so
I'm staying in and staying off of the roads,
especially on Black Friday.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Nov 23 - 08:21 AM

Hoping to avoid holiday traffic

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Nov 23 - 11:07 AM

I seem to have launched a major cleaning and rearranging furniture session at my house; we won't cook our meal until Saturday and when friends and family walk in I hope they're pleasantly surprised at the change in appearance.

It's a small group, five or six only, two of them vegetarian, so we go big on the sides and the turkey is a 13-pound bird.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Nov 23 - 11:51 AM

I am convinced that the energy level and workout by SRS are equal to or greater than Dwayne Johnson's.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Nov 23 - 12:02 PM

The endorphins generated when you start moving furniture are a great boost to getting the job done. There is actually science behind this, though none of the articles (here's one) I saw just now specifically suggested moving heavy furniture. It's a combination of exercise and creative endeavors that work in the favor of furniture movers. :)

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Nov 23 - 12:18 PM

More power to those with large endorphin factories in their brain.
https://sunflowershospitals.com/how-do-you-release-endorphinssunflower-hospital-nagpur/

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Joe_F
Date: 22 Nov 23 - 09:44 PM

I'll have chicken wings, a sweetpotato, broccoli, wine, and an eclair, by myself.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Nov 23 - 10:01 AM

That sounds lonely but even a crowded TG can be lonely. It is no secret that everyone is, but the state of mind makes events fun and intriguing with simple pleasures.
I will be lucky to make coffee since I am chased out of the kitchen today despite being willing to help. Or maybe because I am willing to help. I don't know.

Subject: RE: BS:What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Nov 23 - 03:56 PM

Today is still a holiday even if we're not doing the major cooking until Saturday, so I had a friend over for brunch. I don't make homemade buttermilk pancakes very often any more, so it was nice. A bit of sausage on the side with a cup of tea. Nothing particularly balanced about the meal, carbs, fat, and protein, but it hit the spot!